Malcolm Turnbull has pledged Australia's ongoing support for Afghanistan and signed a $320 million development agreement, during an historic visit by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
Dr Ghani was greeted in Canberra on Monday night by thousands of Hazara protesters, many of whom travelled from interstate, who demanded the two countries revisit a 2011 deal to send failed Afghan asylum seekers back.
However Mr Turnbull turned on a warmer welcome saying Australia would remain focused on helping Afghanistan in its efforts to become more prosperous, secure and self-reliant.
The pair signed a memorandum of understanding for the Afghanistan-Australia development partnership worth $320 million over four years to 2020.
The two countries will co-operate on infrastructure, education and employment of women and girls, agriculture and water management, training of Afghan civil servants and anti-corruption initiatives.
Also, Geoscience Australia will work with the Afghan mines ministry to improve the management of energy, mineral and water resources.
The leaders also discussed the security situation in Afghanistan.
Australia has lost 41 troops there since the US-led operation in 2001.
The current Operation Highroad involves about 270 Australian Defence Force personnel involved in training, logistics, administration and special forces duties.
Dr Ghani laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial before he met with Mr Turnbull.
The protesters are urging the Turnbull government to refuse deals to send asylum seekers and refugees to Afghanistan.
Barat Ali Batoor, a young Hazara photographer driven from Afghanistan by civil war, said security in the country had deteriorated.
"Afghanistan is extremely dangerous for the Hazaras if they are forced or voluntarily deported to Afghanistan," he told AAP on Monday.
Mr Batoor said one Hazara man was deported from Adelaide to Afghanistan last week.
"There is an extremely high risk of being targeted there," he said.
The protesters also want assurances Hazaras are kept safe in Afghanistan, saying the community has been subjected to systemic discrimination, genocide and ethnic cleansing.
"Hazaras have been systematically discriminated against for a very long period and during President Ghani's (time in power) it has spread widely," Mr Batoor said.
Afghanistan's President Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ghani meets with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, April 3, 2017. Source: AAP
"Peaceful rallies there have been hit by suicide and targeted attacks."
Inside Government House, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Dr Ghani inspected Australia's military guard before stepping inside for formal discussions.
The pair exchanged pleasantries about Canberra's dreary weather and the last time they met before their topic of conversation took a personal turn.
"You look good," Dr Ghani told the governor-general as the pair took their seats.
"Since last time I saw you, I've probably taken off quite a bit of weight," Sir Peter replied.
"How much?" the president asked.
"About 22kg ... I just did it deliberately because I wanted to be energetic in this job," Sir Peter said.
Dr Ghani's four-day visit to Australia - the first by an Afghan president - will wrap up on Wednesday.
